Post and rail fence



July 20, 1965 J. s. CASE POST AND RAIL FENCE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 15, 1962 INVENTOR John .5. Case BY Mama? July 20, 1965 J. 5. CASE POST AND RAIL FENCE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 15, 1962 INVENTOR John 5. Case BY Mali/U ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,195,864 POST AND RAIL FENCE John S. Case, Towson, Md, assignor to Anchor Post Products, lnc., Baltimore, Md, a corporation of New Jersey Filed Mar. 15, 1962, Ser. No. 179,990 1 Claim. (Cl. 256-65) This invention relates generally to fences, and more particularly it pertains to an all metal post-and-rail fence assembly.

It is an object of this invention to provide an all metal fence of the rail type which is easily assembled, strongly locked together, attractive and pleasing to the eye.

Another object of this invention is to provide high prod- 'uction, economical, factory-made components which can be easily assembled in the field to form a sturdy multi-rail all metal fence to fit any situation with a minimum of field labor.

Other objects and attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily apparent and understood from the following detailed specification and accompanying drawings in which:

. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fence assembly incorporating features of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a much enlarged vertical section of a joint between rail and post of the fences shown in FIG. 1 illustrating optional positions of the rail;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section of the post taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section of a rail taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a post assembly showing the method of rail attachment thereto;

FIG. 6 is a vertical elevation of a fence similar to that ilustrated in FIG. 1 but incorporating rail clamps; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged detail horizontal section taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

Referring to the details of the drawings, there is shown depicted in FIG. 1 a rail fence 10 comprising post assemblies 12 and horizontal rails 14. As shown in FIG. 5, each post assembly 12 consists of a post 16 which is driven or otherwise secured in the ground. This post 16 is a meta-l extrusion having a general I cross-section which further has inwardly facing square cornered C-shaped flanged sides 18 joined by the central web 20.

It will be noted these flanged sides 18 terminate in vertical runners 22 which extend in pairs the entire length of the post 16 on both faces thereof.

- A plurality of filler strips 24 are provided for each post assembly 12. Each strip 24 is of metal extruded in the form of a flat web with L-shaped flanges 26 which run lengthwise and are slightly set in from each edge of the Web.

These flanges 26 turn outwardly and so, with the edge of the web, provide channels 28 on each side of the filler strip 24 for engaging the previously mentioned runners 22 and thus close the face gaps between the flanged sides 18 of the post 16 when assembled thereon giving the appearance of a square post.

The rails 14 are of sheet metal folded and seamed to rectangular tubing shape or they may also be extruded, as shown best in FIG. 4.

A filler strip 24 is used above and below each rail 14. The ends of the rails 14 are provided with a transverse pin 30 loosely inserted during assembly in the field. This pin 30 becomes captivated behind the runners 22 when a rail 14 is assembled to a post 16 as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

3,195,864 Patented July 20, 1965 A considerable angular position of the rail 14 can be accommodated to take care of fences on a hillside as shown by the dot-dash lines of FIG. 2, with the posts 16 remaining true vertical for good appearance.

If the post 16 is to serve a terminal or end post rather than an intermediate line post, a long length of filler strip 24 is used as shown on the right in FIGS. 2 and 3.

In addition to completing the square appearance of a post assembly, the filler strip 24 may also be a means of strengthening the post 16. To this purpose, the ends of the L-shaped flanges 26 of the filler strips 24 may be hookshaped as shown by reference 32 to more firmly engage the runners 22 on both sides.

Also the edges of the web portion of the filler 24 may be inset so as to be flush with the surface of the post 16.

Where the fence 10 is subject to climbing and there is possibility of the filler strips 24 being cumulatively forced downwardly, the rails 14 may be supported vertically by a clamp 34 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

This clamp 34 consists of a strip 36 somewhat longer than the gap between runners 22 of a post, and a bridge member 38. The bridge member 38 mounts inside the post and straddles the runners 22 with a pair of legs 40. It also has a pair of ears 42 which hold a square nut 44 from turning between them. A headed bolt 46 passes through centered apertures in both the strip 36 and bridge member 38 and engages the nut 44.

One of these clamps 34 is used above and one below each rail 14 and so placed prevent the vertical displacement thereof when the bolts 46 are tightened. The use of filler strips 24 in this case is optional.

A cap 48 with ears 50 may be used as a decorative trim for the post assembly 12. The ears 50 frictionally engage within the flanged sides 18.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claim the invention may be practicecl otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

In combination, a pair of spaced hollow posts each having a pair of spaced longitudinally and inwardly extending flanges defining a slot along the inner side thereof, a plurality of rails, each having its ends received in said slot in each said post to form a fence, with each said rail having a pin member extending transversely therethrough at a pair of opposite corners and across said flanges in the interior of said posts to retain the ends of said rails in their respective slot and to permit said rails to pivot to conform to sloping terrain, and a filler strip slid-ably engaged with said flanges for spacing said rails from each other.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 600,577 3/98 Fenton 256-59 830,437 9/06 Humphrey. 2,138,229 11/38 Figge 287-103 2,159,666 5/39 Lotz 287-54 2,240,689 5/41 Denton 256-59 2,664,178 12/53 Whipple 189-36 2,669,434 2/54 White 256-59 2,754,092 7/56 Cremens 256-21 3,057,601 10/62 Simpson 256-59 X HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

CARL W. ROBINSON, Examiner. 

